Church Administration

Jesus Christ stands at the head of the Church. The mission

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to

help all people come unto Him (see Moroni 10:32). To fulfill

this mission, the Church is organized according to the pattern

revealed by the Lord “for the perfecting of the saints,

. . . till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge

of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:12–13; see also verse 11).

The following outline summarizes the organization of the

Church.

Home and Family

The family is the fundamental unit in the Church, and

home is the most important place for gospel learning. No

other organization can take the place of the family. Even as

the Church continues to grow, its purpose will always be to

support and strengthen families and individuals in their

efforts to live the gospel.

General Administration

The Lord guides His covenant people today through the

President of the Church, whom we sustain as prophet, seer,

and revelator. The President of the Church presides over the

entire Church. He and his counselors, who are also prophets,

seers, and revelators, form the Quorum of the First

Presidency.

Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are also

prophets, seers, and revelators. They, along with the First

Presidency, are “special witnesses of the name of Christ in all

the world” (D&C 107:23). They act under the direction of the

First Presidency “to build up the church, and regulate all the

affairs of the same in all nations” (D&C 107:33). They “open

the door [to the nations] by the proclamation of the gospel of

Jesus Christ” (D&C 107:35).

Members of the Quorums of the Seventy are called to proclaim

the gospel and build up the Church. They work under

the direction of the Twelve Apostles. Members of the First

and Second Quorums of the Seventy are designated General

Authorities, and they may be called to serve anywhere in the

world.

The Presiding Bishopric is the presidency of the Aaronic

Priesthood throughout the Church. The Presiding Bishop and

his counselors serve under the direction of the First

Presidency to administer the temporal affairs of the Church.

The Young Men, Relief Society, Young Women, Primary,

and Sunday School organizations all have presidencies on

the general level to provide instruction and direction.

Area Administration

An area is the largest geographic division of the Church.

Under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum

of the Twelve Apostles, an Area Presidency presides over

each area. Area Presidents and their counselors are assigned

from the Quorum of the Twelve and the Quorums of the

Seventy.

Some brethren are ordained to the office of Seventy but

do not serve as General Authorities. They are called Area

Authority Seventies, and they are assigned to quorums other

than the First or Second Quorums of the Seventy, according

to geographic location. Their jurisdiction is limited to the

general region in which they live. Some Area Authority

Seventies serve in Area Presidencies.

Local Administration

Wards and Branches. Members of the Church are organized

into congregations that meet together frequently for

spiritual and social enrichment. Large congregations are called

wards. Each ward is presided over by a bishop, assisted by

two counselors.

Small congregations are called branches. Each branch is

presided over by a branch president, assisted by two counselors.

Abranch may be organized when at least two member

families live in an area and one of the members is a worthy

Melchizedek Priesthood holder or a worthy priest in the

Aaronic Priesthood. A stake, mission, or district presidency

organizes and supervises the branch. A branch can develop

into a ward if it is located within a stake.

Each ward or branch comprises a specific geographic

area. Different organizations in the ward or branch contribute

to the Lord’s work: high priests groups; elders quorums;

the Relief Society, for women ages 18 years and older;

Aaronic Priesthood quorums, for young men ages 12 through

17; the Young Women program, for young women ages 12

through 17; Primary, for children ages 18 months to 11 years;

and the Sunday School, for all Church members ages 12 and

older. Each of these organizations fulfills important roles in

teaching the gospel, giving service, and supporting parents in

their sacred duty to help their children become converted to

the gospel of Jesus Christ. These organizations also work

together to help members share the gospel with others.

Stakes, Missions, and Districts. Most geographic areas

where the Church is organized are divided into stakes. The

term stake comes from the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied

that the latter-day Church would be like a tent, held

secure by stakes (see Isaiah 33:20; 54:2). There are usually 5

to 12 wards and branches in a stake. Each stake is presided

over by a stake president, assisted by two counselors. Stake

presidents report to and receive direction from their Area

Presidency.

Amission is a unit of the Church that normally covers an

area much larger than that covered by a stake. Each mission

is presided over by a mission president, assisted by two

counselors. Mission presidents are directly accountable to

General Authorities.

Just as a branch is a smaller version of a ward, a district

is a smaller version of a stake. A district is organized when

there are a sufficient number of branches located in an area,

permitting easy communication and convenient travel to district

meetings. A district president is called to preside over it,

with the help of two counselors. The district president reports

to the mission presidency. A district can develop into a stake.

Programs for Single Members. Many Church members have

never married or are divorced or widowed. These members

comprise two groups: young single adults (ages 18 through

30) and single adults (ages 31 and older).

There is not a Churchwide program for young single

adults and single adults. Instead, when enough single members

live in an area, local priesthood leaders are encouraged

to call single-member representatives, who work under their

direction. Single-member representatives plan activities such

as dances, service projects, and firesides. These activities give

single members opportunities to meet with and strengthen

one another. Single members are also encouraged to meet

regularly with their priesthood leaders to discuss their needs

and their opportunities for spiritual growth and service.

Additional reference: D&C 107

See also Priesthood; Relief Society